2016 NFL Draft: 5 positions Patriots will draft

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Sep 26, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back C.J. Prosise (20) runs for a touchdown in front of Massachusetts Minutemen cornerback Kelton Brackett (1) in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 62-27. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Running back

Here is the Patriots’ current (unofficial) running back depth chart.

1. Dion Lewis

2. James White

3. Donald Brown

4. Brandon Bolden

5. Joey Iosefa

6. Tyler Gaffney

Lewis and White essentially do the same thing as squirmy, slippery pass catchers out of the backfield who shouldn’t be given a hefty workload of carries. Brown is also similar in skill set to Lewis and White; he isn’t a power back.

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Bolden is a shoo-in to make the final roster thanks to his special teams prowess, and he also is suitable in spot duty as a ball carrier.

Iosefa was a revelation against the Tennessee Titans but we haven’t heard from him since. If LeGarrette Blount doesn’t re-sign and the Patriots don’t draft a running back, Iosefa will be the only power back on the roster.

We’ll believe it when we see it from Gaffney, who has yet to stay healthy as a pro.

Considering all this, the Patriots should draft a sizable prospect in the event that Blount doesn’t return and the Patriots are left with too many pass catching specialists at the position.

Target: C.J. Prosise

Next: 4. Wide receiver

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